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1916 
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I Early Thoughts | 

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I Ambitions | 

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i Joseph Cooksey i 

= Benjamin Cooksey 1 

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= To the blessings of tender care = 

= Which are shown ever to be there. S 

= — Our Father and Mother. = 

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S BENJAMIN COOK8EY = 

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Early Thoughts 

And Ambitions 

Joseph ftfld Benjamia Cooksey. 






Copyright, December. 1916, 

by 

Joseph and Benjamin Cooksey, 




FIEST EDITION. 

y- DEC 27 !9!6 



The Hill City Republican PreM 
Hill City, Kansas. 



^-^^o f 



INTRODUCTION. 

We take pleasure in introducing this small 
edition to our friends and acquaintances as our 
first attempt at literature, and hope that it will 
meet with their approval. The poems which 
are presented in this book are local. The peo- 
ple we have met and known and lived among 
have all had a part in their making. And so 
hoping that our friends may find pleasure and 
profit in the reading of this small book, which 
we have dedicated to our parents, and, after 
them, to those who made it possible, our loyal 
Graham county friends, we introduce this, our 
Souvenir Volume. 

— Joseph and Benjamin Cooksey. 



Four 



Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



*THE CARAVAN.'* 

By JOSEPH COOKSEY. 
PRELUDE. 

Come darkening night ! 

Let all thy shadows fall 

About this wierd form of mine, 

Encircling all! 

Therein let shapes appear 

Such as haunt those darker, drearer realms 

Of that fair nook 

Wherin all evil hides away 

From the glorious lamp light of the day. 
I. 
As nightly visions slowly closed around 
Encircling all in gloom, with varied form. 
From out those darker realms 
Doth creep the "hell dog" from his den 
To greet a fair, sweet maid, 
Who had, as nightly visions round, 
Stole 'way, as one from out her nurse's care 
To find a fairer, brighter place, wherin to dwell. 



Five 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



For home, it seemed, had been to her 
Far from a fair haven — yes, to her, a "hell." 
But ere she had her humble dwelling spent 
Temptations came, with sentiment too strong 
That tender, carew^orn mind, could resist it not. 

II. 
As she walked slow, hurt and alone, 
Down a long and winding lane 
In search of shelter 
She grew^ weary, from the task, 
And thereby paused to rest her wearied limbs 
And there, by chance, the "hell dog" lurking 
'Bout, came forth to meet and greet 
This careworn maid. 
With sympathizing tones upon his lips 
To soothe, with generosity of human kind 
The weary eyes ere they were closed 
In weary sleep. Sleep 
That comes to careworn creatures 
Of that great pretending class of human kind. 



Six 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



HI. 
He fondled, sympathized and placed a means 
Whereby she could, ere light of morning come. 
Reach that fair haven which awaited her 
Within the city's walls of gaiety. 
Where life would be as pleasure and the 

drudgery of w^ork 
Would ne'er come to soil those fairy hands. 
She, believing all to be as prophesied, 
Went forth unto the city, while the night 
Still hovered 'bout and closed from view 
The previous light of day 
Which had, but few hours hence, 
Gave light unto the whole world 
That it might see and know 
Of things that come to pass 
Ere darkness hovered 'bout and hid from view 
The awfulness of sin. 

IV. 
O, incarnate being, ye, 
The interpreter of "hell,'" 



Seven 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



Wearing still the cloak of human 'bout your form 

So as to keep from view the inner part 

Lest, victims seeing, would come to know 

And shun you as the serpent. 

Which right you are, in all respects. 

Contriving all ; yet far more treacherous 

Is your attitude. 

Far greater is damnations cunning ways. 

V. 

Ere daybreak came this careworn maid had 

found 

A haven wherein all through the night the 

reddish glare 
Poured forth to signify that within its walls 
Damnation was content. To hold and serve 

as compensation 
Such fairy forms as circumstance might bring 
For refuge from starvation s warning call. 
And oftimes passion is too great to resist the 

tempter 



Eight 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



Who, as brute, lacks that which makes one staid, 
Aye, yes, lacks character. 
Doth send for refuge from the outer world 
Such fairy beings as the^e might be entrapped 
Ere public gossips, "hell hags" and the like 
Should grasp the truth and tear it in a thousand 

tangled tales 
Each bearing witness gainst her character. 

VI. 

Days and nights of undue torture passed 

Till careworn maid grew weary of her task, 

And noting then the awfulness of sin 

Bowed down her head to God 

And asked in vain 

That he forgive, and kindly take her in 

Ere she be forced to cross the sea of sin. 

Where undue torture ever enters in 

To punish souls which, ignorant of the fact. 

Hath done a misdemeanor unto Him. 

Yet the, in part, for awfulness of sin, 



Nifttt 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



The punishment is two-fold. 

The human heart must suffer from the act 

While yet it doth maintain the inner form. 

Then, ere death shall enter in, 

And separate affection's seat from soul 

That it nmight pass in fashions tremulous 

To unseen quarters where, for evermore. 

The punishment's in proportion to the sin. 

Vll. 

At eventide this careworn maid stood firm 
And battled 'gainst sin's defying ways 
Until, from out the westward way, 
A light appeared, as coming day. 
And then, alas ! a voice from out the distance 

called — 
'Come, fair one, and join our noble band, 
The ever ending "Caravan" which guides us to 

yon shore; 
Where tears are done ; where days are one. 
And Knights of Sin shall reign no more." 



Ten 



Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



The Want of the World 

By JOSEPH COOKSEY 

What is it the world wanteth > 

Is it the sport with the high-crowned hat, 

With smiling face and rattling tongue. 

With all that becomes a sport, all that ? 

No ! The world wanteth men with smiling faces. 

With a will to do and "I Can," 

Who is a lover of Jesus Christ 

And a friend and brother of man. 

h's not what you are, young girl and boy, 

But only what you will be 

When the glorious world, with a steadfast eye, 

Cometh to call on thee. 

The world wanteth gold, 

The wealth that's untold, 

The wheat and the corn, all that. 

But the greatest it asketh of you, young friend. 

Is to build a character with foundation so firm 

That the house which you buildeth shall 

never upturn 



Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



To temptation's swift breezes 

Which bloweth your way 

And oftimes destroyeth the good of the clay. 

So live then, young friend, with this object in view 

To go higher, be greater, be useful and good, 

And the best thai you giveth will returneth to you 

This is the want of the world. Adieu. 



Long Years Ago. 

Br JOSEPH COCKSHY 

Long years ago 

When nights and days were just the same as now 
Ahho the time wa? reckoned then by years. 
And shepherds guided then, the same as now. 
Their flocks upon the meadows and the moor 
Near that quiet litde town of Bethlehem. 
It was nineteen hundred sixteen years ago 
That Jesus Christ, our Savior, son of woman. 
Came unto this world a purpose for to serve. 
It is for Him that we are gathered here tonight 
To celebrate the birthday of our Christ, 



Twelve 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



Who died for us upon the cross at GalUlee. 

In after years, for sins that man hath made. 

He suffered pain and agony for us. 

As He upon the cross, for torment hung 

Yet no cry of agony escaped His lips. 

But bore He all, faithfully, until the end. 

Because He knew within God, His Father, 

He did have a friend. 

How oft in life, if we but knew it so 

When all the world seems sad and lonely, too, 

And all our life seems one great endless wrong. 

If we but analyze the cause 

We find it aye to be 

Within the blood and flesh that goes to make 

the whole. 

Then, well it is that we tonight. 

Gather here to make the birthday of our Christ 

One where each shall reap his share of joy 

and delight. 
One where tokens of His love is shown to be 
By simple tidings from off this Christmas tree. 



Thirteen 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



You Can*t Always Sometimes Tell. 

By JOSEPH COOKSEY 

Friend, did you ever stop to listen, 
Stop to think, and then to say 
That the best of knowledge ceases 
At the ending of the day ? 
If you have, then did you find it 
That it's always hard to tell. 
And youVe formed this opinion 
"You Can't Always Sometimes Tell ?" 

If you've seen all this in proper, 

In the forms that would display, 

Come and peek at other objects. 

They are all the self same way. 

Just an instance. I'll relate, sir. 

In an humble sort of way 

That a girl had appendicitis, 

That is what the doctors say. 

But the truth is, I want to tell 

That "You Can't Always Sometimes Tell," 



Fourteen 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



So, by far, *ti'^ the best we may 

Form a humble little lay. 

And use this as a maxim true. 

Then in the end be it well 

To sorta hesitate and wait. 

In solemn bliss, afore we go, 

Then say in accents sweet and low, 

"You Can't Always Sometimes Tell," 

Whether 'twere for heaven or for hell. 



When Quiet Comes. 

By JOSEPH COOKSEY 

There'll be no sadness of the heart. 
No tear-dimmed eyes upon our part. 
If we have lived our lives a-right 
And ever kept within that glorious way 
Which leads to endless, perfect day, 
When quiet comes, to manifest its way. 



Fifteen 



Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



The Flower 

By JOSEPH COOKSEY 

Long ago in a beautiful garden, 

Where beautiful flowers grew. 

Some were a somber color, 

Some red, some white and blue. 

A fairy-like maiden there chanced to be 

Walking among the flowers. 

Singing sweet and merrily, 

When a voice from out the distance 

Pea'ing soft and low, 

Speaking in a tongue she had known : 
"Come, little sister, let's go 
Out of the land where sinners dwell. 
Out of the place which men call hell, 
To that land of brotherly love 
Forth to the Kingdom of God above.'' 

She passed, with a smile upon her face, 

A childish smile of tender grace. 

Afar to that home above, 

For she was but a simple flower 

In the garden of God's love. 



Sixteen 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



Lorene 

By JOSEPH COOKSEY. 
PRELUDE. 
Roll on, huge wave, and bring to me 
Some tidings from the darksome sea — 
Where, in encircling gloom is laid. 
About the life of man and maid. 

I. 
A tender maid was she, Lorene, 

The daughtei oi: a sailor, she. 
Who at the age of years sixteen 

Sailed with her father out to sea, 
As brave as he, not knowing fears, 
Yet younger, she, by many years. 

II. 

The sun brightly rose this morn in June, 

And each bird sang to its mate a tune, 
As Lorene's ship sailed away 
For a port in England, away. 

But along toward night the sky 

Owly weather did prophesy. 



Seventeer 



Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



And ere the day its course had run 

A cloud arose and hid the sun. 

As moments came and moments went 

To form the hours which were spent, 

A fair form was thus arrayed 

That on the deck with sorrow weighed. 

It sat and lamented as pea fowls do 

When mates have gone to lands anew, 

Where brighter visages are seen. 

IV. 
Its nature's way, as best we know, 
To make each thing after its kind to grow. 
Shells and rocks and grasses green. 
Fish of sea and bird of air 
Each do their duty to repair 
Their kind and form as best they may 
Each night or evening, or be it day. 

V. 
As with Lorena, who out to sea, 
Sat and lamented 'bout one of thre« 



Eighteen 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



Who was a bright and charming lad 
In a sailor's uniform was clad 
When sailed he out to sea. 
Within his heart was gaiety. 
But ere his journey was ended 
Joy and sadness were blended. 
And he, without a comrade dear 
Was left within a hemisphere 
Of loneliness, and nothing more 
On this fair isle was to be seen 
Except a rugged wave-beaten shore 
Where mossy rocks and trees serene 
Stood forth as monarch of the waste. 

VI. 
As evening came to foretell that day 
Had given all its light away 
Lorene upon the deck stood brave 
And watched with eager eye each wave 
As they played wantonly with ship 
As tho to dance the Denver dip. 



Nineteen 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



And clouds went rolling, curling by. 
As tho in battle with the sky. 
And the wind arose as in vain 
To battle 'gainst clouds and rain. 
Each lightning flash marked its way 
Through the darkness, as it flashed to sea 
And Sailor Libons stood on deck 
With eagle eye and craned neck 
And watched with daughter wistfully 
As winds arose contendingly 
And drove the helpless ship away 
Toward the south ; and when the day 
Came forth without a noted change 
The ship still kept within a range 
Unmarked by atlas of the sea. 
Unknown to all but one, and he 
Three years of dreary hours spent, 
Three years of life of mere content. 
But tho as God had willed it so 
He had a smile that ever grew. 



Twenty 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



Which, mingled in with incontent. 

Which marked his face, when smiles went. 

But yet, w^ithin his soul there grew, 

A firmer hope to live anew 

Those blessed hours of childhood days, 

Those bless'd hours when God's w^ord sways 

And hovers *bout the neighboring hills 

And speaks as doth the rippling rills 

To childhood's unbehoovered way 

In childish likeness, childish play. 

Which, as the innocent lamb. 

May wander from the fold 

And seek shelter of its Father's House 

As did the Lamb of Old, 

VIl. 

Three days the good ship sought the south 
Three days of rain, not one of drouth. 
Two weary nights Lorene thus spent 
In dreaming of the one who went 
Out on the dismal sea away. 



Twenty -one 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



Three years had gone. Three years and a day 

But still her thoughts were ever there 

In daily routine, evening prayer. 

Believing that the all and all 

Of life had passed, when came the fall 

Which caused the good ship to strand 

And strew with wreckage the southern 

shores of sand, 

But still there lived a hope which grew 

A firmer hope to live anew 

By aid of childhood's memories 

Those blessed days when God through 

nature speaks 

To the innocent Iamb which plays 

Amongst evil's ever tempting ways. 

And oftimes grasps, while yet a tender babe, 

Yet in the grasping plants a seed 

Which grows and makes a worthless plant, 

a weed. 



Twenty-tiro 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



VIII. 
Three suns arose, yet tho a-sail 
The good ship sought a calmer gale. 
And ere three suns had calmed to rest 
It peeked at the ocean from the west. 
And peeking thus, displayed afar, 
An island, though it seemed a star. 
Lorene peered thro the seaman's glass 
And there beheld a greenish mass. 
And near the shore to dismay 
A signal to and fro, away, 
In the wind gave proof 
That distress was hovering *bout the way. 
And seeing this the good seaman at the stern 
Set sail for the isle as the sun's rays the sky 

began to turn, 

IX. 

At nightfall the good ship at anchor lay 
By the island's edge in a tiny bay. 
All thru the night the calm old sea 



Twenty -three 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



Looked up, as to say, in merry glee, 
*'A hero art thou, old ship, to be 
At peace in the calm old sea." 
But at the morn, when the sun's first ray 
Gave proof that night had passed, and day 
Had come to show the beauties of the way 
Lorene peeked upon the shore. There 
Bewhiskered man with unkempt hair 
Gave signs and signals, but to no avail 
As such as given were those as man of 

primeval 

Would have given to mate 

On returning from the battle front 

Whereby to show his fate. 

Lorene in seeing such as this 

Called to her father in a manner bliss 

Who came, and seeing such a sight 

Went on shore to find the meaning 

And, on grasping, said, "Oh, God, is it the truth 

Or am I dreaming. 



Twentyfcur 

Early TKoughts and Ambitions 



Be this Orlo Otkin, God grant it is the truth. 
Aboard, my boy, let's to our native land." 

X. 
Tv'o happy hearts put out to sea, 
Two happier hearts were never seen, 
Than those of Orlo and Lorene. 
As ever doth the saying go 
"Thru absence true love will fonder grow." 
And through scenes upon the ship that day 
It would cause one to study, then to say : 
"True love is love without fail, 
Doth not flutter and haunt each gale. 
For strong w^inds may blow 
From east and west 
Yet true love doth linger, heaven blessed." 



The worth of a thing 
Comes only from its use. 



Twenty -flvt 

Early Thoughts and Aonbitions 



The Last Bitter Hour 

By JOSEPH COOKSEY 

How sweet to live, but sweeter still to die. 
To soar far out this wierd world, anon 
To those fairer realms, far beyond the sky. 
Where moon, stars and flickering light of sun 
Ne'er take their turn to radiate the light, 
But where the heavenly light doth ever shine. 
And there, through the golden streamers of 

the past 

Is seen the goodness of the world. 

How sweet to look upon that farewell hour 

As one of sweet contentment and of joy. 

As one of life eternal, not of death. 

As one where each thing there, no matter be 

How small, doth answer forth to God's 

great prayer. 

He who lives in measures of His grace 

No veil of sin shall ever hide His face; 

But ever more so Christ-like thou wilt be 

That God shalt ne'er come to deplore thee. 



Twenty-six 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



Two Years 

By JOSEPH COOKSEY 
Two years hath gone 
As the snail doth go 
From pool to pool 
In the evening when the sun is low 
And the shadows 'round grow cool ; 
But still it all doth seem 

A falsehood. Yes, and more than that, a dream. 
But tho, if eyes and words deceive me not, 
I find it yet the truth 
The young life not the old 
Hath taken wings and flitted 'way 
Far out to sea far o'er the bay, 
While I out on that island in the sea. 
Shipwrecked and alone prayed, aye, yes. 
But now as she hath gone 
Fair sweet one and left me 'lone 
Upon this world where trouble, sin and sorrow 
Are measured out to one in quantities 

unsought for. 



Twenty -seven 

Early Thoughts and Ajrribitions 



Ah ! Blessed be the day when man can claim 

That which God took as His for selfishness. 

No, for God's work all is just. 

And if work be just no matter be 

How humble life doth seem, 

Or if the wolf doth linger at the door. 

Yet be it in part that we should suffer thus 

Within the end we reap a great reward. 



Beautiful Twilight Hours 

By JOSEPH COOKSEY 
Beautiful twilight hours 

At the setting of the sun, 
Beautiful twilight hours 

When the night is just begun. 
How sweet it is to wander, 

How very sweet to see 
When night begins to squander 

Its darkness o'er the lea. 



Twenty-eigkt 

Early Thouglits and Ambitions 



Beautiful twilight hours 

When nature all serene 
Paints pictures 'bout the horizon 

Paints pictures on the green. 
How sweet to sit in silence 

And dream about the day 
When nature shows the beauty 

The beauties of her way. 
Beautiful twilight hours, 

The stillness of the night 
When birds and bees and flowers 

Hide themselves from sight. 
Out on the dismal wayside 

Away and afar it may seem. 
There comes fi om the land of fairies 

A sw^eet, sweet peaceful dream. 

Find not all fault w^ith a brother who 
In a former time befriended you. 
Because if it's faults you're looking for 
You need not look, you'll find it true 
The greatest fault is found with you. 



Twenty- 
Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



Part II. 



PREFACE. 

By BFNJAMIN COOKSEY 

I measure not my fame 

By all the bards who sing my name. 
Or by the men who never knew 
The things I did, or still can do. 

I measure it by memory's store 

Of deeds to friends that I adore. 



Thirty 



Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



Adieu To Childhood 

By BENJAMIN COOKSEY 

Sweet, happy childhood, 

I bid thee adieu. 
On time's golden wings 

How swiflty I flew. 

O ! Nearest of nature, 

! Dearest of man, 
No man can forget you 

For his life you began. 

No matter the glory achieving 

ril live in the land that I'm leaving. 

My life, my heart, my all, 

Are centered in my childhood's fall. 

The joy of my childhood 

1 always shall sing, 

For I roamed in the wildwood 
And loved everything. 

Oh, childhood's joyous hours 

Return to me again, 
With all the lovely flowers 

Scattered all among the rain. 



Thirty -one 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



The Rainbow 

By BENJAMIN COOK8EY. 

The clouds were lowering round me 
The rain was pouring down 

Till I thought that it would drown m« 
Before I reached the town. 

I saw a house by the roadside 

And quickly hastened in. 
To find a place to hide 

From the thunderous crash and din. 

In the door of the little shanty 

A frightened woman sat ; 
Four children called her "Aunty," 

But she quieted them at that. 

"Welcome, stranger, to the shelter, 
For the storm is gathering fast." 

So I stepped from out the pelter 

Of the hail stones, safe at last. 

But the children all were fearful 
Of the thunder's mighty crash. 

And the smallest one was tearful 
At the lightnings vivid flash. 



Thirty-two 

Early ThougKts and Ambitions 



For a moment all the waters 

In the heavens seemed to fall ; 
Then there came a moment's quiet 

And she reassured them all. 
Soon the sun was brightly shining. 

And the world was fresh and green, 
While the sun began to mining 

Colors for a rainbow screen. 
When the baby saw the rainbow 

He was silent for awhile. 
Then he cried, with child-like luster : 

"Aunty ! Aunty ! See God smile !" 
The storm was over, and yet 

Stretched outward and onward 
For many and many a mile, 

The Rainbow — God's reassuring smile. 
Some times in our lives, you know, 

Storms are gathering fast. 
If we only work contented 

God will smile on us at last. 



Thirty-tkree 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



Every storm contains a rainbow. 
Every life its shining hours. 

As the storm ends with the rainbow 
Let us live in ours. 

The Life That's Passed 

Ey BENJAMIN COOKSEY. 
Oh, girl that with me used to roam 
O'er the wild sweet praires, our home. 
Can it be ! Can it be ! 
That you rest in death's sea 
Under the billowy foam ? 

Can it be, can it be, that iily-iike 
Thou iivest but a little while. 
And faded like a loving smile, 
Thou, who with me, in childish way. 
All o'er the meadows used to play ? 

Can it be, oh. Christ, that she 

le an angel now with Thee ? 

I fain would wish that she were here 



Thirtj-four 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



To play with me, as in days of old — 
But, alas ! 'twill never he. 

My boyhood's passed, ne'er to return, 

And as God wiliest, so 'twill be. 

We all must pass at last. 

For life is fleeting fast ; 

And as God willed, so let it be. 

But still in loved memory 
The time that's passed 
Will aWays seem 
Without her there 
An empty dream. 

— — I m' 

The Dawn of Life 

By BHNJAMIN COOKSEY 

The rosy tints of rosy dawn 
Awakened forest deer and fawn. 
And the whole world was made 
Rose-tinted by those early beams 
In a flaming arch waylaid. 



Thirty -five 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



And gathered by the fleecy seams 
Of clouds that idly floated on the sky 
Until they broke from ail restraint 
And flooded over ail the country by ; 
A moment later they had faded faint 
And the sun arose, and once again 
The world took up its scenery plain. 

They stood upon the river brink 

Two children yet too young to think 

Of love's sweet call and power over all. 

But in the hearts of childish mirth 

We often find the true love's birth. 

In each small heart there dwells a power 

That stronger grows each tiny hour, 

Till some day, in the future dim, 

It conquers and overwhelms him 

And makes him slave to woman's will. 

A happy slave and willing still 

To do the things which love calls great — 

For what is greater than the tribute paid 

By every lover to his chosen maid ? 



Thirty-«ix 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



In this is woman's greatest power, 
Greater than fame or father's dower, 
For she may. by its magic, rule 
The smartest man or lowest fool. 

The sun above the golden rim 
Had brightened many a pleasant hour 
As goes the hour to her and him 
Together in love's fragrant bower. 
For when the mind assails the truth 
Of love, its faith, its truth and joy 
He quickly finds his Ruth, 
She quickly finds her "boy." 
Tis then life's sun shines brightest. 
And hearts are then the lightest ; 
For what to childish heart or mind 
Is joy except some joyous find ? 

Silently they stood beside the river wide. 
She, in her dress and hood, seemed like 

a youthful bride. 
He, with his ruddy cheeks and freckled nose, 
Looked well the part of dime heroes. 



Thirty -seven 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



So they, in love's young blissful dream. 
Wandered idly down the silent stream. 
Each flower and minnow spoke to them 
Of days long passed and yet to come, 
With a fervent wish and pleading dumb. 
Their hearts were glad and blissfully free 
As they followed the river to the sea. 
Each happy, care-free, wandering day, 
Spent in innocent childish play 
Brought them nearer to that door 
Which, opened once, ne'er closes more, 
For we've but one youth to live 
And God, himself, carmot another give. 
But we can take the better part 
Throughout our lives, within our heart, 
if we but keep a smiling face, 
A heart filled up with childish grace, 
A soul well filled with mirth and joy. 
Gathered when we're girl and boy. 
Our paths will be a starlit sea 
Wherin no storms may ever be. 



Thirty-eight 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



When? 

Ey BENJ/vMIN COOKSEY 
Oh, nature, make me strong 
That I may turn from words to deeds 
And right the world's great wrong. 
When people turn from di^erent creeds 
And change into a brethren throng ; 
When heart of flesh no longer bleeds 
For those who die upon the bloody fields. 
And those that live to still repent. 
They lived, to see their country kneeled 
Before the moral foe of population bent. 
From duties sore and their fate sealed 
To live and see their wealth so spent 
That it must take the foeman's life 
Not only that, but something more, 
Must take his babies and his wife. 
And make them slaves to still do o'er 
The frightful scenes of battle rife. 
They then shall reach the destined shore 
Where God, in all fulfillment, rests secure. 



Thirty-nine 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 
Pictures in The Rain 

By BENJAMIN COOKSEY 

I love to lie and hear 

The wind howl over head. 
And the rain fall far and near 

I know that nature is not dead, 
And in those falling drops I see 
The promise of a life to be. 

The lilies by the stream 

Will wake from sleep 
And end the winter's dream 

With promises to reap. 
And in the falling rain 
I see the gladness, not the pain. 

Oh, rain ! If Hfe could be like thee 

Always refreshing, helping those in need. 

Their lives refreshing, and so be 
The agent that revives the seed 

Of life's true meaning and true worth 

Then mankind would be king of earth. 



Forty 



Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



Solomon Waters 

By BENJAMIN COOKSEY. 

In the bend of the inland river, 

In the land of the corn fields green, 

With the winds of the prairie a-quiver 

The truest of life can be seen. 

In the silent white hight of the moon. 

In the broadening glare of the sun, 

It's all of a painted picture. 

Where the Solomon Waters run — 

They come from the highland towers 

Of the silent low-lying hills. 

They come from the lowland bowers. 

In the sweetest of twinkling rills. 

The land is full of the valleys 

Wore down by their dancing feet, 

And the waters that flow in the river 

Are sparkling and happy and sweet. 

They flow by the hills and valleys, 

They flow by the islands and bays. 

They flow by the minnow pool rallies. 



Forty- 
Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



They How by the fields of maize. 
Here in a narrow channel, 
There in a widening stream, 
Now through another channel 
Into a land of dream. 
The violets clusteririg near them 
With heads of royal blue, 
Bend low down to hear them 
Murmuring silvery through 
Green and slender and tall 
The grasses and willows bend, 
Smilingly guarding them all 
From the overheated wind. 



Consolation 

By BENJAMIN COOKSEY 
To her who teaches me 

In actions, deeds and words, 
To turn my English free 

And sing the songs of birds. 



Forty -two 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



To her ril turn when I have fled 

To distant realms beyond the sky 
The kingdom of the dead. 

To her I owe that I defy 
All things to make me sad 

For any length of time. 
But nature is not always glad 

But in a sense doth rhyme. 
The flowers, grasses and the weeds 

All seem so sweet a company 
When the heart is torn and bleeds 

When friends have turned to foes 
And people pass thee by 

All strangers. One who knows 
The bleeding heart's sad cry 

When scalding tears unbidden fall 
And sorrow holds thy memory's hall. 

Go forth to nature's scenes of art 
And to her open wide your heart. 

Let sorrow drift to outer air 
For pent up sorrow leads to despair. 



Forty-three 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



Pick flowers from the growing sand, 
They are alive and understand. 

Their 'lotted time ends with the call 
Of frost, when the red leaves fall. 

Then why should we complain 
If we can live for years of pain 

And still our souls can keep ? 
Then why should we in sorrow weep 

When flowers grumble not 
If they but bloom and fade and are forgot. 

What if a life, on nearing the prime, 
Is carried away by the wings of cruel time ? 

Should we weep and bewail them that's gone 
Or only still saddened move on. 

Should our faces show signs of sadness 

and sorrow. 

Or only a smile, in the face of our past 

and tomorrow ? 

Sadness and sorrow is life Decembered, 

They'r better forgotten than remembered. 

Do the roses that bloom in the clay 



Forty -four 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



Hide their faces from view if we take one away? 

Or if they're all taken but one 
Does it hide its fair face from the sun ? 

Do the petals pale and grow dimmer, 
Or only add more to their color and glimmer? 

Does it cry of the ties that we sever. 
Or only shine brighter than ever? 

Abstinence 

By BENJAMIN COOKSEY. 

Abstinence is my name and 1 am power 

Whereby ambition's heights attain. 
I am the path that must be trod 
If you succeed and win your God. 

I am the metal that minds are made from. 

To me all weaklings in their weakness come. 
And when they mind my dictates true 
They have a power all their own and new. 

No power on earth is greater than 

The power of w^ill in fighting man. 



Portr-l'iir© 



Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



To A Traitor 

By BENJAMIN COOKSEY 

To him or her who gives away 
Their country class or school. 

For the foul deed there's bitter pay 
Each guilty pang but names him fooL 

And mankind points in shame 
To him who downs a name. 

Yea ! Revenge is sweet 

As the first draught you quaff, 

And say, aha, I've beat, 

But know not why you laugh. 

But, Oh that bitter cup 

Which you, yourself, have raised. 

To your own foul lips held up. 

Fate still will hold it there 
Till all its bitter dregs have dazed 

Your mind and heart and soul. 

You, then, must ever roll 

In all the filth of earth. 
Wherin no thing is lower yet 

In the justice scales of worth. 



Forty -six 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



The Flower That Bloomed by the Side 
Of the Stream 

By BENJAMIN COOKSEY 

It bloomed by the side of the stream, 

A modest, sweet violet flower. 

And little did it dream 

What would happen ere an hour 

Passed o'er its bending head. 

A stranger passed and picked it 

From its stem and it was dead. 

Thus is life with us. 
We know not when the call 
From God may come to us 
And we may quickly fall 
Like leaves from off the trees 
When the year is old. 

But we must pay the fees 
Of life and all its giving, 
For death is still as yet 
The penalty of living. 



Forty -seven 

Early ThougKts and Ambitions 



The Mystery of Violet Isle 

By BENJAMIN COOKSEY 
PRELUDE 
Sweet fancy's harp, awake. 
Thy longest silence break, 
For the wild world's sweet sake 
Tell why yon isle of blue 
Holds but one life instead of two. 

Two children, roving hand in hand, 

Came upon a violet land 

Surrounded by a river lake, 

And mindful of the tales that told 

Of a man, alone and old. 

Who lived and wept for memory's sake 

Upon an island in a lake — 

Crossed over with that one intent 

To ask him why alone he spent 

His days amongst the violets blue. 

They found him 'mongst his flowers — 

Thus he spent his leisure hours — 



Forty-eight 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



And when they asked him why 

He lived so much alone 

He answered in a dull, sweet tone : 

"As I wander by the river 
Where in days of long ago 
The grave grass used to quiver 
Now the waving corn fields grow. 
If you knew of half the sorrow 
Or the pain that I've gone thru 
You would never, oh, no, never, 
Ask the questions that you do. 
I was once as light and happy 
As you youngsters are today. 
But I'm old and have grown weary 
Of a life that's thrown away. 
And I fain would ask God's mercy 
On a feeble, weary head. 
If, instead of with the living, 
I would number with the dead. 
"In my childhood I did play 



Fort J -ft If;© 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



With my comrade, little Fay. 
We wandered all these prairies o'er. 
Picked the violets from the shore. 
Mingled them with daffodils 
That were gathered on the hills. 
And with hands unerring, tried 
Boatlets fashioned, side by side. 
And the boats that thus were made 
Prom my memory ne'er shall fade. 
When 'twas time to homeward go 
We would wander oh, so slow. 
Till we reached our parting ways» 
Bid good bye in the sun's last rays — 
Waving each other a last farewell 
From the crest of yon lofty swell. 

"I remember well, oh, fatal day ! 
We set our flower boats afloat 
And watched them sail away. 
She saying, as our names she wrote, 
And placed them in two chosen boats 



Fifty 



Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



'Sail on, thou boats of fate, 

And as thou goest so shalt go 

The lives of those whose names you know. 

If calm and silent sailest thou 

Together out of sight; they too, like thee. 

Together onward they shall go. 

But if you part, and separate sail, 

Or if one sinks, the other slow^ 

Sails on — one lives alone to wail.' 

"When she had shoved them out, 

And the waters bore them on, 

We heard a warning shout : 

'The dam ! The dam has gone !' 

Then came that awful roar. 

One moment still w^as left us, 

One moment, and no more ! 

The wall of water surged around us 

And we were born aw^ay. 

Oh. Christ ! That I e'er lived 

To see the dawning day, 



Fifty -one 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



For some where, drifting onward, 
In that water w^as my Fay, 

"I have traveled far and w^ide, 
I have seen the storm's confusion, 
I have drifted on the tide 
Of my life's sad evolution, 
And I've come around the bend, 
I am waiting, only waiting, 
For I'm almost at the end. 
And as silently I'm waiting 
Scenes of long ago return. 
And I wonder if in heaven 
My childhood will return. 
Then I'll happy be again 
In that land of love and pain." 

The moon is casting down her sheen 

Upon the Violet Isle so green. 

And the violets down by the lovely shore. 

Listen, listen, still once more. 

To a tale of love I ween, 



Pifty-two 

Early Thoughts and Ambitions 



For two lovers march the strand 
StroUing ever hand in hand, 
Where in youth they used to play. 
That the morning, this the day, 
As they silently stroll along 
From the highland comes a song, 
That the wind is ever singing, 
Joy within their hearts is ringing. 
Yet their thoughts are still of him 
That in the twilight, oh, so dim. 
Who will find his love at last. 
Of that non-forgotten past 
In that Violet Isle above 
That is ruled by steadfast love. 



All that is good and pure and true 
Friendship will bring it all to you. 
There's never a chasm so deep or wide 
But friends may bridge it side by side. 



f 



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imTSI °^ CONGRESS 




